Wallaroo Mines Primary School, parents kept in dark over principal probe
A school community of just 99 students has been thrown into turmoil as parents threaten to withdraw their children over an investigation into the principal.
Parents of children at Wallaroo Mines Primary School feel they have been “kept in the dark” regarding an investigation into the school’s principal, Tamarin Condon.
Parents did not receive any official correspondence about the investigation until Friday afternoon despite Ms Condon being absent from her role since October 31.
Up until Friday, parents said they only received emailed updates about who was acting principal in Ms Condon’s absence.
“It just feels like nobody wants to step up and take ownership for what’s happened,” school parent, Nicole Fergusson said.
“They’re just kind of brushing it under the carpet.
“I sent a bunch of questions and the response I got was ‘we’ve acknowledged receipt of your email’ and that was it.”
Ms Fergusson is among a group of parents who have signed a petition calling for a change of leadership at the school.
The petition, which was created following the year 3-6 school camp, currently has 247 signatures, despite only 99 students being enrolled at the Yorke Peninsula primary school.
Cass Kay, who has two children at the school, said she was shocked when her son returned from the camp and informed her Mr Condon was in attendance.
“We didn’t actually even know that (Ms Condon) was going on the camp,” the 33-year-old mum said.
“When they do camps they give you a list of what teachers, SSOs, volunteers, whatever are going to be there, she wasn’t meant to be there.”
Ms Kay claimed that parents had been barred from attending the camp and that Ms Condon informed staff that she had brought her husband because she doesn’t like driving at night time.
Another parent, Teshaana Nolan said the situation made her feel “uncomfortable”.
“It’s just a lot of discrepancies, a lot of lack of communication and a lot of secrecy with people that we should be able to trust with our children wholeheartedly,” Ms Nolan said.
“We’re just trying to protect our kids and make sure they’re safe.”
The Department for Education have denied claims of secrecy and said they have “met with a number of parents multiple times”.
A spokesperson added that some parents have been “warned about their ongoing behaviour”.
Ms Kay said she is the only parent who received a “warning letter” from Education director, David Cowles following a complaint she emailed to Ms Condon and her comment on the online petition.
The letter, from Mr Cowles, said Ms Kay may be reported to South Australia police if she “(continued) to use online resources inappropriately”.
Ms Kay said Ms Condon had created a “nightmare” scenario at was an “amazing” school.
“She was very condescending to the parents,” Ms Kay said.
Fellow parent, Jordyn Richmond labelled Ms Condon’s approach to teaching as “authoritarian”.
“I don’t feel that she had the safety of students or staff or parents on her mind,” Ms Richmond said.
“My kids are off school today because of the anxiety that has been built up around Tamarin’s presence and the unknown of whether she’s coming back.”
On Friday the Department for Education confirmed that “experienced educator” Tim McLeod will be appointed as principal for the remainder of term 4.
Ms Kay, Ms Richmond and Ms Nolan said they would consider moving their children to a different school or homeschooling them if Ms Condon is permitted to return to Wallaroo Mines Primary School.
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Originally published as Wallaroo Mines Primary School, parents kept in dark over principal probe
